Residents Fret Over Demise Of K-Bay Council

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Kaneohe Bay Regional Council faces an uncertain future since Act 068 was signed into law in May to dissolve it, but many still see it as a key tool for the bay’s protection and best use.

The KBRC met for several years to discuss issues and work out policy for Kaneohe Bay, including sand bar activity and reef markers. High on its agenda has always been to implement the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan as it relates to ocean use activities.

State Rep. Ken Ito introduced House Bill 586 this session to “sunset"the council as of July 2010 and designate the state DLNR to carry out its plans, programs and policies.

“My understanding from talking with Ken is his concern was that all of these added responsibilities were costing a huge amount of money,” said Ito’s Windward colleague, state Sen. Jill Tokuda. Ito was out of town and unavailable for comment at press time. Other concerns were lack of public participation and occasional lack of quorum at quarterly meetings, she said.

“There is a lot of potential for this particular council, but over time it has not been as heavily utilized as it could be. This bill has been helpful in reinvigorating our movement to monitor our bay and restore it back to what it was.

“We want to make sure that all of our residents have as many opportunities to voice their opinions and concerns. That’s what this serves to do,” Tokuda said.

Bill Sager - a KBRC and the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board member - said one of the council’s largest undertakings was working with the community to develop a master plan for the bay area.

“Thousands of hours of community involvement went into it,” he said, noting that the plan was submitted in 1991, and since then the council has been trying unsuccessfully to get provisions implemented with the DLNR.

Sager’s biggest concern with Act 068, however, is the loss of the council as a way for the community to communicate to government.

“Probably 20 people were at our last meeting ... they wanted to form a community group that would advocate for Kaneohe Bay and try to get Act 068 repealed.

“The council is a sounding board for the community when they’re concerned about usage in the bay or on the land that affects the bay. Whereas neighborhood boards are advisory, the council has a little more teeth.”